Detection of a putative novel genotype of Ehrlichia sp. from opossums (Didelphis aurita) from Brazil

Erlichiosis affects humans and animals worldwide. Its distribution and prevalence depends on the presence of tick vectors and hosts in one geographic area. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. in opossums (Didelphis sp.) from the State o...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Guimarães, Andresa, Raimundo, Juliana Macedo, Silva, Aline Tonussi Da, Carpintero, Fernanda Modesto, Pires, Jeferson Rocha, Benevenute, Jyan Lucas [UNESP], Machado, Rosangela Zacarias [UNESP], André, Marcos Rogério [UNESP], Baldani, Cristiane Divan
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/188941
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1984-296120180068
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/188941
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Brazil
Didelphis aurita
Ehrlichia
Ehrlichiosis
Molecular characterization
Opossum
Descripción
Sumario:Erlichiosis affects humans and animals worldwide. Its distribution and prevalence depends on the presence of tick vectors and hosts in one geographic area. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. in opossums (Didelphis sp.) from the State of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. Blood samples from 37 animals were tested for these two pathogens using molecular methods. One animal (2.7%) was positive for Ehrlichia sp. by 16S rRNA-based nested PCR. In a phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene using the maximum likelihood method and the GTRGAMMA+I evolutionary model, we detected a novel Ehrlichia sp. genotype closely related to genotypes of E. canis previously reported in dogs from Brazil. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of Ehrlichia sp. in opossums from this State in the southeastern region of the country.